Obituaries : John William “Bill” Travis

John William “Bill” Travis, age 93, passed peacefully, on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the Vinton Lutheran Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Phillips Funeral Home (212 E. 6^th St.) in Vinton with Bill’s grandson Tom Primmer officiating.  Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery with graveside military rites.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 until 10:45 AM on Thursday, also at the Funeral Home.  Memorials may be directed to the family for a scholarship to be set up in Bill’s name for students entering the trades.

Bill was born on March 2, 1932, in Dallas Center IA, the son of Emery and Blanche (Leggett) Travis.  He graduated from Dallas Center High School with the class of 1949.  Bill served his Country in the United States Navy during the Korean War.  He married his High School sweetheart Julia Ann “Judy” Cadwell on April 12, 1952, at the Dallas Center United Methodist Church.  They would have celebrated their 74^th wedding anniversary this year.  Judy preceded Bill in death on January 7^th of this year.

Bill and Judy operated the Dallas Center True Value Hardware Store for six years and purchased Travis True Value in Vinton in 1969.  They worked side by side at the store for 42 years.  Bill was very active in both of his communities.  He was a member of the Jaycees, the American Legion, the Masonic Lodge, and served as a Boy Scout Leader in Dallas Center.  In Vinton, he enjoyed membership in the American Legion, Harmony Hawks, Act 1 Community Theatre, the Community Club, Kiwanis Club, Masonic Lodge, and the Vinton Country Club.  Bill and Judy volunteered for many years at the Palace Theatre, and Bill dearly loved working as a driver for Virginia Gay Hospital and volunteering with Veterans transportation.  

He is survived by his daughters, Pamela (Rick) Primmer of Vinton, Susan Travis of Waukee; daughter-in-law Connie Travis of Vinton; 8 grandchildren, Tom (Diane) Primmer, James (Natane) Primmer, Julie (Kevin) Haefner, Angie (Bart) Klinsing, Tyler Travis, Will (Megan) Ketchen, Natalie (Brandon Ehrecke) Ketchen, Olivia (Brian) Stainbrook; 15 great grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren; brother, Robert (Rose) Travis of Marietta, OK, sister, Jean (Arnie) Odefy of Savage, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Judy; his beloved son Tom in 2003; brother, Donald Travis in infancy; sisters, Doris (Ralph) Preuss, and Phyllis (John) Mertz. 

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com